For the most part the Calgary Flames controlled play against the Anaheim Ducks last night but, when all was said and done, they left the ice with yet another regulation loss in hand.
Some notes on that and what we've seen from the Flames thus far:
1) I'm not sure exactly how to explain it but the Flames' top players have seemed off this season. All of them.
Johnny Gaudreau, more often than not, hasn't been himself dancing around opposing defenders and creating chances every shift. Sean Monahan hasn't been shooting the puck at all and it still took him 14 games to record an assist. Mark Giordano looks like he's aged, like, five years and T.J. Brodie hasn't been his perfect little self.
I know there will be an adjustment period under a new coaching staff and the Flames' schedule hasn't been easy, especially of late, but all of those guys are paid tons of money to be high-end hockey players and, right now, none of them are really living up to expectations.
If that doesn't change, and soon, it will be another year without playoffs in Calgary.
2) Sticking with Monahan, he looks particularly lost out there this season. To date he is averaging about one point every three games and has recorded two shots or less in eight straight games. That's not exactly ideal for a guy with aspirations to score 30+. He is not exclusively to blame for the Flames' struggles but they really need more from him.
3) At what point are we going to stop limiting Matthew Tkachuk's minutes? With him on the ice at 5 v 5 last night the Flames out attempted the Ducks 12-6 and out chanced them 6-3. Individually he had a pair of shots and was very involved physically once again. Despite that no Flame, forward or defenseman, played less at 5 v 5 last night. Tkachuk is one of a handful of players actually performing right now. He should be rewarded for that.
4) Deryk Engelland played a season low of just 14:44 last night. I'm sure his fight had some impact but it's encouraging nonetheless.
5) And the 1st star of the game goes to...this dog. Seriously, how cool is this?
Dogs are cool pic.twitter.com/TOAZCDCS7K
— Todd Cordell (@ToddCordell) November 7, 2016
Recent posts: Flames were smart to keep Tkachuk around